TreePeople
In January 2025, the Hughes Fire scorched through over 10,000 acres near Castaic Lake in Los Angeles County. It moved fast, pushed by high winds. Thanks to a rapid response from local fire crews, it was contained just as quickly—but not before it tore through 25 acres of land where TreePeople had been working for…
Dear TreePeople Community, As we welcome a new year, I am deeply grateful to be writing to you for the first time as TreePeople’s CEO. It is an honor to join this remarkable organization and the extraordinary community that has sustained its mission for more than half a century. Stepping into this role, I am…
Discover Meaningful Ways to Support TreePeople’s Mission At TreePeople, every gift grows far beyond the moment it’s given. This Giving Tuesday, what if your generosity could plant more native trees, expand tree canopy to underserved communities, and strengthen environmental equity across Southern California? Whether you choose to give once or explore new ways to deepen…
The holidays are just around the corner, and if you’re STUMPED about what to get the environmentalist in your life, don’t fret—we have you covered! From the granola girlie who likes to look cute while hitting the trails to the person whose whole personality is hating invasive species, we have a great gift option for…
Spooky season is here…step into our haunted native garden IF YOU DARE! From a stem parasite that can “see” and “smell” its hosts to a charming but deadly flower, here are five of the creepiest native plants you can find growing around SoCal: California dodder (Cuscuta californica) Have you ever noticed a strange, orange, spaghetti-like…
The western monarch population has reached a near record low. According to the Xerces Society, fewer than 10,000 butterflies were found overwintering in California during their annual monarch count last winter—the second lowest number recorded since tracking began in the 90s. Unfortunately, these beloved and essential pollinators face a myriad of threats across their migratory…
Dear TreePeople Community, Late last year, I was truly honored to be elected the new Board Chair at TreePeople. Having grown up in Los Angeles, I have known about TreePeople most of my life. In fact, I went to high school just down the hill from Coldwater Canyon Park. Over the years, I have spent…
As school greening work heats up, surface temps cool down Did you know that as part of our CAL FIRE grants, we are required to take surface temperatures before, during, and after construction for all project sites? Our team visits sites prior to construction with the design in hand, focusing on any surface that will…
Have you ever strolled down your street and thought, “Wow, these trees could use a little TLC”? It’s not an uncommon experience here in SoCal, where many of our local trees are struggling to survive due to climate change, improper care, or harsh growing conditions. But guess what? You can do something about it! Forming…
Life in the big city is REALLY tough for trees. While trees in the wild often live 100 years or more, the average lifespan of an urban tree is just 19 to 28 years, according to the USDA. What accounts for this discrepancy? Well, many of our urban environments aren’t built for trees—they’re built for…
Here at TreePeople, we do a LOT of planting—in 2024 alone, we put more than 11,000 new trees in the ground! Expanding our urban canopy is critical to building climate resilience. But something that’s just as important is continuing to care for the canopy we have—especially the older, mature trees that make our neighborhoods shady,…
As toxic ash carpeted many peoples’ yards during the recent LA wildfires, it highlighted an ongoing concern—the way our health is intricately connected with soil health. Contaminated soil is an important human health concern. People can be exposed when we accidentally eat or breathe in soil particles, and young children—who are especially vulnerable—can be exposed…